A Lesson in Morglbl
French rock trio hosts music workshops in Blowing Rock

By Jeff Eason

The French rock trio Morglbl is legendary in Europe for its wonderful mix of hard rock, jazz and Zappa-esque humor. In the United States, however, the band is relatively unknown.

That relative obscurity is enabling Morglbl (pronounced just like it’s spelled) to tour the U.S. playing in smaller towns and performing in cozier venues where Christophe Godin, Qurelien Ouzoulias and Ivan Rougny can better become acquainted with their audiences.

The guys in Morglbl will spend four days in Blowing Rock next month and they have more than just some terrific live shows planned for our area. The musicians will host master clinics so musicians in our area can pick the brains of some of the best in the business.

“Blowing Rock will be the band’s first stop on this six-week tour,” said U.S. tour coordinator Julie Cord. “The tour will be in support of a new album, tentatively titled Jazz for the Deaf. The official release is after the tour, but it should be available at all shows. And French fans are not happy (that U.S. fans get to hear the new album first).”

While in Blowing Rock, Morglbl will perform at Canyons of the Blue Ridge on Friday and Saturday, April 17 and 18. Friday’s show will serve as a CD release celebration for Jazz for the Deaf. The band will also have copies of their previous albums, Grötesk and Toons Tunes (a re-release of Morglbl’s original two albums plus bonus tracks), available at the shows.

Both shows at Canyons will start around 10 p.m.

The musicians’ workshops will be held at the Inn at Crestwood located at 3236 Shulls Mill Rd.

On Wednesday, April 15, guitarist Christophe Godin will host his “Kartoon Guitar Clinic” from 6 to 8 p.m. On Thursday, Aurelien Ouzoulias will host a percussion clinic from 6 to 8 p.m. And on Friday, April 17, Ivan Rougny will host a bass guitar clinic from 6 to 8 p.m.

“To keep the setting friendly and intimate, class space is limited, so interested parties are encouraged to reserve space early,” Cord said.

For the workshops, guitarists are invited to bring electric and acoustic guitars, bassists are invited to bring electric and acoustic bassists, and percussionists are invited to bring their sticks and brushes.

Musicians can reserve a place in the workshop by emailing Cord at bluemouth@comcast.net. Clinics will be $25 per person for the general public and $10 per person for current Appalachian State University students. ASU music instructor Andy Page will be assisting in the workshops.

Prospective students can watch Morglbl in action online at www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxknq21-EM8.